AARS2-catalyzed lactylation induces follicle development and premature ovarian insufficiency

Abstract Lactate, a metabolite which is elevated in various developmental and pathological processes, exerts its signal through alanyl tRNA synthetases (AARS)-catalyzed protein lactylation. Herein, we report that elevated lactate and gain-of-function mitochondrial AARS (AARS2) mutations-induced hype...

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Main Authors: Zhi-Ling Zhang, Shu-Ting Ren, Wan-Jie Yang, Xiao-Wen Xu, Shi-Min Zhao, Ke-Fei Fang, Yan Lin, Yi-Yuan Yuan, Xiao-Jin Zhang, Yun-Qin Chen, Wei Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-04-01
Series:Cell Death Discovery
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-025-02501-0
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Summary:Abstract Lactate, a metabolite which is elevated in various developmental and pathological processes, exerts its signal through alanyl tRNA synthetases (AARS)-catalyzed protein lactylation. Herein, we report that elevated lactate and gain-of-function mitochondrial AARS (AARS2) mutations-induced hyper-lactylation promotes premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Serum lactate is elevated in POI patients. POI-driving AARS2 mutations gain lactyltransferase activity. AARS2 lactylates and inactivates carnitine palmitoyl transferase 2 (CPT2), resulting in FFA accumulation that activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), and potentiates follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to initiate follicle development. These, in synergy with the anabolites accumulation effects of AARS2, promoted lactylation-induced PDHA1 inactivation promote granular cell (GC) proliferation and primordial follicle development. GC-specific AARS2 overexpression does not affect primordial follicle number but speed up follicle depletion. AARS2 ablation or lactylation-inhibiting β-alanine treatments can prevent folliculogenesis and POI traits in mouse. These findings reveal that lactate signal drives follicle development, and inhibiting lactate signal could treat/prevent POI.
ISSN:2058-7716